What does bringing back forward Deshaun Thomas, who led Ohio State’s Final Four run with a 19.2 tournament scoring average, for his junior season mean for the Buckeyes?

“He wasn’t sold on, ‘I’ve got to get out of here,’ ” Ohio State coach Thad Matta told Sporting News on Friday. “He knows he has things to work on. He’s a pretty sharp kid, and you appreciate that about him.”

Thomas, a 6-7, 225-pound sophomore from Fort Wayne, Ind., plays power forward for the Buckeyes but will have to play small forward in the NBA. He must become a better ballhandler and passer to thrive at that position, and he’ll need to advance from a 3-point threat — he made 50 last season, at a 34.5 percent clip — to a genuine weapon at that distance in the pros.

Thomas made significant improvement as a defender in his first season as a starter and was instrumental in slowing Kansas All-American power forward Thomas Robinson in the national semifinals before encountering foul trouble; Thomas also held Syracuse star Kris Joseph to 10 points and 4-of-11 shooting in the East Region final.

He submitted paperwork to the NBA Draft advisory board to get an idea of his possible draft position but announced his decision to stay at OSU before receiving a grade from the committee.

Matta says Thomas could become a force in the Big Ten next season.

Although the Buckeyes will lose All-American center Jared Sullinger and four-year starter William Buford, they have two sophomores-to-be — 6-11 Amir Williams, who excelled in limited NCAA Tournament appearances, and 6-9 LaQuinton Ross — in position to take over those roles. If the Buckeyes choose to go with a smaller lineup on the perimeter, guard Shannon Scott could take Buford’s playing time.

With Sullinger out of the picture — he announced his decision to leave early for the draft this week — Thomas should be the team’s primary scoring option and could be a leading contender for Big Ten player of the year.

“We have a great team returning next season, and I want to be a part of another championship run,” Thomas said Friday in a statement. “My family, my coaches and I looked at my future as a professional but I love being a Buckeye and want to continue my education and development as a player and as a person at Ohio State .

“If I do have an opportunity to play basketball professionally, I want to have an immediate impact.”